Qatar hero Lawrie going for hat-trick; Hoey and McGinley cut

Michael Hoey and Paul McGinley missed the one under par cut by two shots as Paul Lawrie stormed into the halfway lead at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Hoey followed his bogey free 68 with just one birdie against three bogeys and a double in a 77 to finish on one over par alongside McGinley, who shot a one over 73.

Breezy conditions made scoring a challenge in the second round but wind specialist Lawrie, 47, fired a six under par 66 to move a step closer to becoming the first player to win the event three times.

The 47-year old won at Doha Golf Club in 1999 - a few months before his Open Championship triumph at Carnoustie - and 2012, both times going on to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team the same year.

In his 16th appearance at the Qatar Masters, Lawrie again showed his affinity for windy conditions, carding seven birdies and a bogey to move to 11 under for the tournament, one shot clear of Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, who birdied the last for a 68.

Frenchman Grégory Bourdy and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello also signed for 68s - the former enjoying a hole-in-one at the eighth - to lie a shot further back on nine under par alongside Englishman Andrew Johnston (69), while Sergio Garcia, the 2014 champion, was one of five players on eight under after a bogey-free 66 which included an eagle two at the par four 16th.

South African Branden Grace did his chances of successfully defending the tournament no harm with a five under par 67 to move into a share of tied 11th place on seven under.

Paul Lawrie

“It was pretty much the same as yesterday - I played nicely tee-to-green. I hit a lot of good shots. When you play nicely as that and control the flight of the ball like I did yesterday, you know you're going to hole a few putts, you're going to shoot low. So it was a good day.

“They put the tees forward today, obviously thinking that the wind was going to blow pretty hard. So I got a little frustrated after 15, because I thought, you're not taking advantage of the conditions today. Then I played some nice golf and made a few birdies.

“It's nice to go back to places that you know you can play well on and you have done in the past. It's got to help that you know you've won this tournament twice before. But there’s a long way to go; you know the old adage. A lot of golf to be played, a lot of top players are still up there. But so far, so good.”

Nicolas Colsaerts

“It was a bit more of a grind, the front nine was a bit scruffy. There are probably a few shots that I would like to have again. And then I made a fantastic eagle on the first, my tenth, which got me back into the rhythm that I was hoping for. I played pretty steadily for the rest of that nine and four under is a pretty decent score today.

“I've played quite well in the last couple years here. It seems like I know what to do on certain key holes and key shots. The back nine is probably a little more scoreable, so if you get off to a good start and keep the rhythm going, you can actually play quite well out here.”

Rafa Cabrera- Bello

“I think I'm well known for being a very consistent player. On a day with a lot of wind, normally you need to use a lot of resources and I think I'm good at that. I'm used to playing with the wind, plus I like this course.

“Normally if I can use the wind, I'll use it. But sometimes it gets to the point that it's so much that you just have to play against it, and then that's when it gets really tricky.

“I just missed some shots because of overdoing the wind or paying way too much attention to it. I think I was pretty much in control the entire day, which is something I'm proud of, especially on windy days.”

Grégory Bourdy

“It was not as difficult as yesterday. This morning, the wind was not blowing too hard. I think it's a good score, especially the hole-in-one, I'm very pleased about that. I had 158 metres to the pin and it was a straight shot into the wind. It's my third hole-in-one on Tour, which is great.

“My game was again solid this morning. I just missed a few birdies, but my putting was not as great as yesterday. The rest of the game was actually very good. So I think nine under after two rounds in these conditions, on this course – I’m very happy about that.”

Andrew Johnston

“It's a good start and I’m pleased with the two days. I drove the ball well and kept it in play. I've hit a lot of good iron shots the right side of the pin, and I've putted well. I've just taken every hole as it comes. I holed some good putts at good times for birdies and hit some good shots at other good times. It's sort of gelled well together.

“I just need to keep doing what I'm doing, keep the ball in play, hit some good shots and hole some putts and do exactly the same as what I’ve done until now.”

Sergio Garcia

“Any time you shoot under par, it's good. Even though my finish wasn't great yesterday, I was still happy with the beginning. Today I played really nicely. I think I hit every green. It was another good round, so I’ve just got to try to do more of the same on Friday, Saturday.

“I had a really good front nine. I felt like I played well on the back when it was getting tougher; the wind was picking up. A lot of putts burned the edge, and finally I made a bomb on eight. The one you don't expect to go in was the one I made. It was a little bit of surprise, so I didn't know what to do.

“I don't know if they were dance moves (on the eighth green). They were like jabs. When we got to the ninth tee, I said to my caddie and to the guys, 'I think that celebration is going to look a little bit funny on TV'.”

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